Hello, hello – welcome back to Bonjour Quilts for another weekend update. Let’s get this show on the road!
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What I’m Sewing…
More Bottomless Bear Paws quilt blocks. I’m having a great time sewing these up, I don’t want to stop.
Unfortunately I really should have spent the week finishing the citron/teal kite lattice quilt so that I can get my design wall back. I can’t arrange all my bear paws until I get that one done and dusted.
I guess what I’m really saying is that I need a second design wall! Ha, I wish! The floor will have to do for now.
I want to get it all up on the wall so I can look at it for a while and think about what I want to do around the edges. I might just go with plain fabric edge triangles, or I might make some half-paws to take the design completely to the edges.
The colour possibilities for both options also need to be considered. Do I stay with the same scrappy blue/green theme or do I maybe go to a bit of a fade around the edges? Much to ponder!
Around the Interwebs…
Here’s a great scrap fabric project from Spoonful of Sugar. This little fabric business card holder would also be a great way to dress up a gift card for giving.
The Fat Quarter Shop is having a Labor Day Sale. Up to 60% off some items!
I love this quick and easy vinyl (or oil cloth) zipper pouch tutorial found on Diary of a Quilter. Great for back-to-school pencil cases for those in the Northern Hemisphere.
That reminds me I also have a tutorial for vinyl and fabric zipper pouches (mine are clear vinyl, which is great for project bags). And I have a related tutorial for Flex Frame Vinyl Pouches, too (for smaller items, or when you want easy access).
If you’re in Australia, it’s time to start planning your trip to the Brisbane Craft + Quilt Fair, 9-12 October. I’m dragging my Mum and my niece along, too (just kidding, they actually want to go).
If you’re in North America and would like to destash some fabric then you’ll love FeelGood Fibers. It’s also a great place to buy fabric (help someone decrease their stash) or find out-of-print treasures.
If you’re new to quilting and would love a comprehensive online course to teach you how to make a quilt from go to woah then you’ll love Jemima’s New Quilt on the Block course. Jemima’s a fellow Aussie and bends over backwards to make sure you have a wonderful, easy sewing experience. The closest thing to having your hand held while you sew a quilt!
Reader Quilts…
I always love to see quilts you’ve made from Bonjour Quilts patterns so please keep sending them in! Either email (Kirsty at BonjourQuilts dotcom), or tag me on Facebook or Instagram.
Cheryl did a brilliant job utilising bear panels and an animal print that’ve hibernated in her cupboard for about 15 years. She matched the panels with two sizes of bear paw blocks from the Bottomless Bear Paws pattern, choosing black square paw pads that tie in with the black sashing. I’m so glad this fabric found its way out of the cupboard and into a quilt!
Doris’ Diamonds in the Deep quilt is a beauty. It’s a little hard to see in the top photo but the navy fabric has a slight wave pattern on it in a silvery-blue. To me, it makes all the darker parts of the quilt feel like deep water, which I love. The second photo shows the navy fabric better, and the white-on-white print of the lighter fabric. (The silvery quilt back is also shimmer-tastic.)
Jodie’s log cabin quilt really shines – the yellow stars have great contrast against the charcoal background. I have a blog post that shows you how to make this twin sized quilt – the Rectangle Log Cabin Quilt tutorial.
And I know I’ve shown this one before, but it’s just so fun to see completely different quilts made from the same pattern. Here’s Melissa’s version of the same pattern, where she’s highlighted the central cross in the blocks and added a matching border.
Here’s Erika’s lovely first quilt – full of saturated purples and aqua that morph across the diagonal. If you look closely you’ll see Erika’s choice of a print with both colours for her central diagonal. She’s then used this fabric in her border too. You can find a tutorial for this baby quilt in another blog post – Sweet and Simple Squares Baby Quilt.
And finally, here’s some more beautifully saturated colour in Charlene’s When You Wish…baby mat. Another fun, fat quarter friendly pattern that you can whip up in a weekend. The baby mat size is a free tutorial, and there’s also a pattern in the shop for throw, queen and king sizes.
And just for fun, here’s a two-colour version of this pattern that I sewed a couple of years ago:
Chez Bonjour…
Boy, it’s been hot! Despite it being winter here Down Under, this week we’ve had 4 days in the low 30s (85-88℉). It’s been beautiful, but it does make me a little nervous about the upcoming summer.
Our eldest kiddo is home on a university break, visiting from Canberra (know for its cold winters) so he’s having a great time with this weather. The kids have even jumped into the pool a couple times – most unwinterlike!
As you can imagine, it’s been glorious down at our local beaches (and crowded!)
The hibiscus are flowering, in all sorts of lovely pink, red, orange and yellow varieties.
I had an evening walk in my t-shirt, which was lovely.
I do wonder if it’s all a ruse, though. My American readers – I think you call this a Strawberry Spring? A spate of warm weather that makes you think winter is over, but then it comes back with a vengeance to bite you before season’s end? I won’t put my jeans away just yet!
Cats’ Corner…
And finally, Tigger (orange) and Lulu (brown), our Burmese cats, send their love.
They have been dropping fur by the bucketload, courtesy of this warm weather. There’s a certain slant of afternoon light here that shows the fur on flat surfaces…I’ve just decided to close my eyes during that hour. I’ll never get anything done if I have to keep cleaning up cat hair (don’t worry, it never gets to tumbleweed stage.)
Look at this chonky, fluffy girl.
Have a great weekend!
That’s all, folks. I hope you’ve got as much sunshine where you are as we do here this weekend. And I hope you get a moment to yourself to enjoy some sewing. You deserve it!
Until next time,
Kirsty x
We call it Indian Summer up here in New England…once early September hits, it gets cold, and then about the 2nd week we get a big warm up before temps plunge into fall and colored leaves season.
One last hurrah before winter. You have to make the most of it!
I just received an email this morning that Feel Good Fibers is closing their business. Sad.
Thanks for your newsletter, being in NW Washington State, USA, I enjoy seeing your beaches and flowers. Best of all, your fun musings on quilt-making and of course, the kitties!
Hi Kristin, yes I got that email too. They did a great job and I hope they enjoy their next adventure.
Lovely quilt inspiration! I’ve had a house guest for a week! and haven’t even been near the work area. WOW I miss it. So maybe I can get to some of these quilts. In Chicago we say “If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.” I’m thinking about doing the starburst with 4 panels for a full sized quilt (after I finish the other 3 on the table!) But it’s still my fav. Thanks!
Hi Joan, well the outlook for Wednesday is already 10 degrees cooler so you might be onto something there. Have fun getting back into the sewing room – enjoy!